View full sizeNathan Cox discusses plans for a memorial for Alabamians who have lost their lives in the war against terrorism. The memorial, which will be placed at USS Battleship Park, will feature a 20-foot-tall sculpture by artist Casey Downing. Cox, a former Marine, is raising money for the memorial. The Alabama Korean War Memorial is in the background. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

MOBILE, Alabama — Former U.S. Marine Nathan Cox knows first-hand about fallen heroes — he lost his best friend in Afghanistan and witnessed another buddy killed in action in Iraq.

The Spanish Fort resident has spearheaded efforts to raise money to build the Fallen Heroes Memorial at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. The project will honor military personnel who lost their lives in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001.

So far, $100,000 has been raised toward a goal of $150,000, and local artist Casey Downing has begun work on a memorial sculpture that will take almost a year to complete, according to Cox, president of Bellator Real Estate & Development.

The third annual Fallen Heroes Memorial Golf tournament is scheduled for June 28 at 1 p.m. at Daphne’s TimberCreek Golf Course, 9650 TimberCreek Blvd. The cost is $100 per player, $200 per sponsorship or $500 for a sponsorship and a team. All fees and checks will be made to the USS Alabama Battleship Foundation and are tax deductible. For more information, contact Cox at 251-621-1887 or email ncox@BellatorAL.com.

The bronze sculpture will depict one of the most emotional ceremonies conducted in the combat zone, one that marks the death of a soldier, according to Cox, 29, who joined the Marines after graduating from the University of Alabama.

The memorial will be about 20 feet tall and about 8 feet wide with a six-sided granite base. A soldier’s boots will rest on the base, with a rifle positioned between them, the rifle butt facing skyward. Dog tags hang from the rifle and a helmet will rest atop it.

Cox, who was deployed to Iraq with 3rd Battalion 6th Marines as a rifle platoon commander in 2005 and 2006, said that at the time of a soldier’s death, each platoon member had a moment to kneel at the makeshift battlefield memorial and say goodbye to his friend.

“When you’re out in the combat zone, and can hear bombs or rifle fire, a lot of tears are shed,” he said. “Anytime I see it, I get choked up.”

U.S. service organizations — Marines, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard — will each be honored on one side of the granite base. The sixth side will list the names of those who have died, according to Downing, who is a U.S. Navy veteran. He said he served for almost four years during the Vietnam War, but was never in combat.

Cox and numerous volunteers have organized fundraisers including golf tournaments and concerts. Alabama Power Co. and TimberCreek Land Group each donated $12,500.

“A lot of folks have reached out and sent $25 or $50, or gone to a concert to support the memorial,” Cox said. “I can’t thank them enough for the support they have shown our troops. It’s not like that everywhere. My Marine friends come here to visit and the first thing people in Alabama say is, ‘Thank you for serving.’ ”